KYTC to review dangerous corridor that has seen deadly crashes, including teenager

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Nearly a year and a half ago a teenage nursing student was killed in a car crash in south Louisville. The location of the crash is the same area Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is taking a look at to improve safety.

Haley Hines was 18-years-old, a graduate from Doss High School, and working at a nursing home, when police said Eric Johnson was travelling southbound on New Cut Road and lost control and hit the center-raised median. His car then slid across the median and into the left lane of northbound traffic, crashing into the car Haley Hines was in.

The crash happened just outside Colonial Gardens in 2022.

KYTC has been looking at data and working to find safe solutions to crashes in the Taylor Boulevard-New Cut Road Corridor. That's about a five mile stretch between the Watterson and the Gene Snyder.

The corridor ranks fifth of the 53 most dangerous roadways in Louisville, according to the city's transportation safety initiative Vision Zero.

"I got a call about 12:30 that night saying that my daughter was gone... I went home, hysterical," said Haley Hines' mom Keisha Hurst. "I'm sad and angry every day."

Deadly crashes like that, and ones involving pedestrians, is what KYTC wants to address.

A community feedback session was hosted Wednesday night by KYTC and the city.

Problems include speed, and four lanes of traffic where the lanes are considered narrow.

KYTC said medians and going from two lanes to one in each direction, are possible solutions, but it will be years before changes are made.

While KYTC works on plans and searches for solutions, Hines' family will also be searching for their own answers to, 'why Haley?'

“I just don’t understand why it happened, I’m still confused and just lost with words you know because she was a good person," Hurst said.

Even more than road improvements to the area where Haley lost her life, her family wants justice. They said delays in court have left them frustrated, but they are determined.

Eric Johnson is expected back in court in June.

A survey about KYTC's plans will be open until May 25. To provide your input, click here.

To read more about Vison Zero, click here.

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